School based factors and their effects on discipline of Secondary School students in Kiambu East District, Kenya

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Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the school based factors and their
influence on discipline of secondary school students in Kiambu East District,
Kenya. Discipline is an important component of the teaching learning process
and therefore an important aspect of the school system. It is because of this
reason that the stake holders in education including the parents, educationists,
and the government has been committing resources towards enhancing
discipline in secondary schools. The government has particularly been
committing a lot of material, technical and expert personnel towards
establishing discipline in secondary schools and other institutions of learning.
Thus it is important to examine the causes and effects of indiscipline among
students with a view minimizing or even eradicating the problem.
The objectives of the study were to identify the types of indiscipline that are
common III secondary schools in Kiambu East District, to examine the
effects of the teachers backgrounds characteristics on discipline in secondary
schools in Kiambu East District and to determine the effect of availability of
teaching-learning resources on discipline in Kiambu East District. Another
objective also included to determine ways in which the availability of
physical facilities influence secondary school discipline in Kiambu East
District and to suggest possible strategies of curbing indiscipline in secondary
schools.
The study adopted a descriptive research design. This research design was
found suitable because it is favourable to a natural setting like a classroom as
compared to a laboratory. It also makes use of flexible and interactive data
collection methods like a questionnaire method. A set of three questionnaires
method were used as the main data collecting instruments. There was a
questionnaire for the headteachers, one for the teachers and one for the
students. The data was analysed using through the software package for
social sciences (SPSS) Frequencies distribution tables and percentages were
used.
The research findings indicate that school based factors, (Teachers
demographic characteristics, teaching-learning materials and physical
facilities) have an effect on discipline in secondary schools, the finding
generated following conclusions. That indiscipline is a common problem in
secondary schools and that it takes one form or the other. However the
common types of indiscipline differ from school to school. This depends on
whether it is a boys boarding school, a girls boarding school or a mixed day
secondary school. According to the research findings the most common
forms of indiscipline in boys boarding secondary schools are noise making,
rudeness and vernacular speaking. In girls boarding secondary schools the
research found the following forms of indiscipline to be most common, noise
making, rudeness, vernacular speaking and work avoidance. According to the
study findings the most common forms of indiscipline in mixed day
secondary schools are, noise making, absenteeism, vernacular speaking and
work avoidance.
The research study found that teachers demographic characteristics have an
effect on students discipline in secondary schools. According to the findings
qualified and experienced teachers are likely to enhance discipline than
unqualified and inexperienced teachers. The research also found that older
teachers are likely to have positive impact on students discipline this could be
because of their experience in dealing with discipline issues.
The research findings showed that teaching-learning materials have an
influence on discipline; the study suggests that adequate provision of
teaching-learning materials could help to enhance discipline in secondary
schools. The study showed that physical facilities have an impact on
discipline. According to the research findings availability of physical could
assist to improve on discipline. For example availability of library, laboratory
have an effect on students discipline, therefore recommends adequate
provision of these facilities.
Generally the study recommends that there is need to enhance students
discipline in secondary schools in order to facilitate a conducive learning and
teaching atmosphere. The study suggests that the untrained teachers could
attend in-service training in order to acquire knowledge and skills on
discipline issues. This would assist the teachers in their duties since they play
a major role in maintenance of discipline in secondary schools. Trained
teachers could also attend short refresher courses on handling discipline.
The study recommends that schools be encouraged to replenish the Teaching-learning
materials as this can encourage the teaching and learning to take
place with little or no interruption, this can reduce chances of indiscipline
among the students. On the other hand this could reduce time wastage and
idleness and encourage good academic results which on the other hand could
encourage good discipline. Finally the study suggests that another study be
carried out on effects of indiscipline on school management.